Transient brown adipocyte-like cells derive from peripheral nerve progenitors in response to bone morphogenetic protein 2

Stem Cells Transl Med. 2012 Dec;1(12):874-85. doi: 10.5966/sctm.2012-0090. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

Abstract

Perineurial-associated brown adipocyte-like cells were rapidly generated during bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced sciatic nerve remodeling in the mouse. Two days after intramuscular injection of transduced mouse fibroblast cells expressing BMP2 into wild-type mice, there was replication of beta-3 adrenergic receptor(+) (ADRB3(+)) cells within the sciatic nerve perineurium. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and analysis of cells isolated from these nerves confirmed ADRB3(+) cell expansion and their expression of the neural migration marker HNK1. Similar analysis performed 4 days after BMP2 delivery revealed a significant decrease in ADRB3(+) cells from isolated sciatic nerves, with their concurrent appearance within the adjacent soft tissue, suggesting migration away from the nerve. These soft tissue-derived cells also expressed the brown adipose marker uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Quantification of ADRB3-specific RNA in total hind limb tissue revealed a 3-fold increase 2 days after delivery of BMP2, followed by a 70-fold increase in UCP1-specific RNA after 3 days. Expression levels then rapidly returned to baseline by 4 days. Interestingly, these ADRB3(+) UCP1(+) cells also expressed the neural guidance factor reelin. Reelin(+) cells demonstrated distinct patterns within the injected muscle, concentrated toward the area of BMP2 release. Blocking mast cell degranulation-induced nerve remodeling resulted in the complete abrogation of UCP1-specific RNA and protein expression within the hind limbs following BMP2 injection. The data collectively suggest that local BMP2 administration initiates a cascade of events leading to the expansion, migration, and differentiation of progenitors from the peripheral nerve perineurium to brown adipose-like cells in the mouse, a necessary prerequisite for associated nerve remodeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Adipocytes, Brown / cytology*
  • Adipocytes, Brown / physiology
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Lineage / physiology
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Peripheral Nerves / cytology*
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiology
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / genetics
  • Reelin Protein
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / physiology
  • Transgenes / genetics
  • Uncoupling Protein 1

Substances

  • BMP2 protein, human
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3
  • Reelin Protein
  • UCP1 protein, human
  • Ucp1 protein, mouse
  • Uncoupling Protein 1
  • RELN protein, human
  • Reln protein, mouse
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Norepinephrine